Signal apparatus for roadways



Dec.'10,1940. J SPARE 2,224,491

' SIGNAL APPARATUS FOR ROADWAYS Filed Jan. 2, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet l Dec.10, 1940. J. SPAKE SIGNAL APPARATUS FOR ROADWAYS Filed Jan. 2, 1940 4Sheets-Sheet 2 xii.

Dec. 10, 1940. J. S PAKE SIGNAL APPARATUS FOR ROADWAYS 4 Sheets-Sheet sFiled Jan. '2, 1940 Dec. 10, 1940. J. SPAKE- I SIGNAL APPARATUS FORROADWAYS Filed Jan. 2, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Dec. 10, 1940 JohnSpake, Shelby, N. C.,,assignor of one-half to A. Wood, she1by, N.o.

Application J anuary 2, 1940; Serial No. 312,169

8 Claims.

My invention relates to signal apparatus for roadways.

An important object of the inventionis to provide apparatus of the abovementioned character which will produce an audible signal, at

intervals, as the vehicle travelingupon one road approaches theintersection with another.-

A further object of the invention is to=provide apparatus of the abovementioned character which will operate a visual signal When-the Vehicletraveling on one road approaches the intersection.

A further object of the invention is to provideapparatus of the abovementioned character which will reset the signal to-the normal or safetyposition whenthe vehicle is about to pass the signal.

A further objectof the invention is toprovide a trip device. which isadaptedto be installed in the roadway and which will be depressedby thewheels of the vehicle passing over the same.

A further object of the invention is. toprovide a trip device which isso constructed that the load of the vehicle is not supported'by themovable parts of the trip device, afterl such movable. parts aredepressed.

A further object ofthe. invention is to provide a trip device of theabove. mentioned character having movable parts arranged in the. pathof.travel of the vehicle to move verticallyand properly held againstlateral displacement.

A further object of the inventionisto, provide mechanical means operatedby the trip device. for actuating an audible signal.

A further object of the invention isto provide mechanical means operatedby the tripdevice to operate a remote visual signal. I

A further object of the invention isto provide means to automaticallycompensate-.for the.-con.-- traction or expansion of the cable: due tocoefficient of expansion.

Other objects and advantages of the: invention will be apparent.during-the course'of-i the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and inwhich. like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame,

Figure 1 is a plan view of apparatusembodying my invention,

. Figure 2 is a longitudinal'section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1,

55 3-3-of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a transversesection takenronline' Figure 4 is a'planviewshowing a slight'modifi'cation ofthe invention, I

Figure 5' is a plan view of one of the" trip devices,

Figure 6 is a side elevation, parts in longitudinal vertical section andparts broken away;

Figure? is a transverse vertical section taken on, line 7-1- of Figure6;

Figure 8' is-a.longitudinal vertical section taken on line 8-'8 ofFigure 5,

Figure 9 is a perspective view, partly diagrammatic, of a pluralityof'the trips and associated. elements; I s

Figure 10 is a transverse verticalsection taken on line lil -l 0 ofFigure 8,

Figure 11 isa similar view taken on line l |+-I I' ofFigure 8,

Figure 12 is-a perspective-viewer a coefficientofexpansioncompensating;device,

Figure 13 isaplan view of the trip device adjacent to theinter'section,

Figure 14 is a transverse section taken on line l4- l4 of Figure 13,

Figure 15 is'a side elevation ofthe'trip deviceshown in Figure 13, partsin'vertical section and parts broken away, and,

Figure-1'6 is a longitudinalsection taken on line l'G-IGofFigure 13:

In" the drawings; wherein 'for-t'h'e purpose. of illustration are shownpreferred" embodiments of myinvention, the numeralZll designates a mainhighway and 2| designates a side road, the same crossing for providingan intersection 22. Disposed'upon' the right side of themain highwayupon opposite sides of theside road 2| are trip devices 23 and 24, whichare substantially identical. The trip devices in each group are spacedsuitable distances apart, such as five h'und'red'f'eet, although thedistance-"may be varied, as found advantageous. The-trip devices 24 arearranged near the intersection 2-2 and are dis-.- pos'ed: upon oppositesides thereof; as shown.

Each trip device 23 and 24 comprises an outer casing or box 25.preferably formed of concrete. The openings are cut in the roadway,adjacent to the outer edges thereof and suitable molds prises a pair ofupper arms 28, which are arranged transversely of the roadway 28 andextend across the outer portion thereof for a suitable distance. Theupper arms 28 extend longitudinally within the metal casing 21 and arepivotally mounted upon a horizontal shaft 29, held within bearings 30.The numeral 3| designates a lower arm, arranged between the upper arms28, and pivotally supported at its inner end with respect to the-roadway20 by a transverse shaft 32, carried in bearings 33, Figures 8 and 11.The lower arm has its outer end extending beyond the outer ends of thearms 28 and this outer end is provided with an elongated slot 34,slidably receiving a stub-shaft 35, carried by the ends of the arms 28and rigidly secured thereto. jWhen, the upper arms 28 are depressed,thestub-shaft- 35 slides within the slot 34 and depresses the lowerinner arm 3|. The outer end of the lower arm 3| is guided in itsvertical movement within a vertical slot 36, formed in a stationaryplate 31. This guide means prevents the arm 3| and the arms 28 frombeing shifted laterally, when the wheels of the vehicle pass over thesame. Arranged between the arms 28 is a spacer 38,rigidly attached tothese arms by any suitable means as by bolts or the like. The outer endof the spacer 38 terminates at the point 39 so that it does notinterfere with the relative movements between the arms 28 and 3|. Thefunction of the spacer is to'provide a flat supporting surface for theflexible cover, to be described.

Arranged adjacent to the outer end of the casing 21- is a verticalcasing or housing 4|] preferably formed of metal. The housing 40 isprovided with louvers 40 so that the audible signal may be readilyheard. The housing 48 is of course rigidlyattached to the casing 21. Thenumeral 4| designates a flexible cover extending over the top surfacesof the arms 28 and spacer 38. This flexible cover also extends over thecasing 21 and concrete box 25 and is attached to the wooden strips 28,and is also attached to the casing 40 at 42. It ispreferred to form atight even joint at the edges of the cover 4| by means of a tar filler4|.

Arranged within each vertical housing40 is an audible signal devicecomprising a gong 43, sup ported by a bracket 44. This gong is arrangedto be engaged by clappers 45, carried by flexible fingers 46, secured toa hub 41. This hub is rotatable upon a horizontal shaft 48, carried inbearings 49. The hub 41 is rigidly secured to a gear 50, and may beformed integral therewith. The gear 50 is arranged to be engaged by arack 5|, depending from the outer end of the arm 3| and rigidly securedthereto. It is thus seen that when the arm 3| is depressed the rack 5|will engage thegear 50 and rotate it whereby the clappers 45 will strikethe gong 43 and when the arm 3| rises, the rack 5| will rotate the gear50 in the reverse direction again causing the clappers to strike thegong. The arm 3| extends-intothe housing 40, as shown,.and the free endof the arm is connected at 52 with a cable 53, extending upwardly, andpassed about a grooved pulley 54, supported in a bracket 55, attached tothe top of the housing 48. The cable 53 extends downwardly and isconnected with a weight 56, operating within a vertical guide 51. Theweight and associated elements serve to raise the arm 3|. The upwardmovement of the arm 3| is limited by contact with the top of the slot 36and by engagement with the spacer 38, while the downward movement satingdevices.

of the arm 3| and the arms 28 is limited by stops 58, secured to thesides of the casing 21 and arranged to contact with the lower edges ofthe arms 28.

A visual signal is mounted at each of the trip devices 24, at theintersection. This visual signal comprises a vertical post 59, rotatablein a bearing 60, and having an end-thrust bearing 6| at its lower end.The post 59 extends above the housing 48 for a suitable distance, andcarries a signal element or semaphore 62, which is swung horizontally bythe post 59. When there is no traflic on the main highway 20 approachingthe side road 2|, the semaphore 62 is parallel with the side road 2|,but when the vehicle traveling upon the main highway 28 approaches theintersection, the trip devices 23 turn the vertical post 59 and thesemaphore is swung horizontally to a position at a right angle to theside road 2|. Means are provided to connect the arms 3| of the tripdevices 23 with the post 59, to turn it. This means comprises a cable63, having branches 64 extending over pulleys 65, supported by fixedshafts 66. The cable branches 64 extend downwardly and are. attached tothe free-end of the arms 3| at 52.

At the trip device 24, arranged adjacent to theintersection 22, thecable 63 is wound about a grooved pulley B1. The winding may be for Thisgrooved pulley is mounted upon a horizonm1 fixed shaft 68, carried bythe housing 40. The

grooved pulley 61 is preferably formed integral with a secondgroo vedpulley 69 and the grooved pulley. 6'! is also preferably formed integralwith a bevelgear l0, engaging a bevel gear rigidly mounted upon thevertical post 59. It is thus seen that when the cable 63 is pulled bythe downward movement of the arm 3| of either trip device 23 that thiscable will turn the grooved, pulley, 61 and this turning movement willbe transmitted to the vertical. post 59, which will then turnthesemaphore 62 at a right angle to theside road. The semaphore 62 willremain in this set position until returned to the normal positionby' theaction'of the arm 3| of the trip device 24. The pulley 69 has a cable 12wound thereon in 'a' reverse direction to the winding of the cable 63 onthe pulley 61 and the cable 12 passes over a guide pulley 13, carried bya fixed shaft 14 and the cable 12 is attached to the free end of the arm3| of the trip device 24, at 52. It is thus seenthat when the arm 3| ofthe trip device 24 is depressed, this arm' will pull upon the cable 12,causing it to rotate the "pulley 69, which will turn the vertical post59 in a reverse direction so that the semaphore 82 will again bearranged parallel with the side road.

Thecable 63 will operate satisfactorily under differentweatherconditions and different temperatures. However, I contemplate connectingcompensating devices therein, to take care of the coefficient ofexpansion of the cable-63. .In Figure 12, I have shown one of thesecompen- When the device shown in Figure 12 is iused the cable 63'is cutandoneend of the cable is.attached to adisk 14 while the cable is passedthrough an opening 15 inthe other disk 14. The cable has frictionalengage ment within the openings 15, and theextent of this frictionalengagement is regulated; by changesin temperature. Further, the disks 14are slidable within a cylinder 16, and the frictional contact betweenthe disks and'the cylinder is also varied by changes in temperature.While semaphore further.

I contemplateusing this. compensating device, my; invention is notrestricted toth-e use of the same.

In. Figure 4' themain highway 20 is shown curved instead of straight,and the cables 83 extending: between the trip devices, pass throughguide devices 1-1.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-

Assuming that the semaphore 62 is set parallel to the side road 2| andthat a vehicle is approaching the trip device 23 which is the mostremote from the intersection, then when the vehicle reaches the firsttrip device 23 it will depress the arm 3| of this trip device. When thearm is depressed the cable 63 is pulled and the semaphore 62 is swungfor 90 and is then arranged at a right angle to the side road 2|,providing a visual signal at the intersection. When the arm 3| of thefirst trip device moves downwardly and then upwardly, the gong 43 issounded upon both movements of the arm 3|. When the vehicle passes overthe next trip 23, the gong is sounded upon the down and up movements ofthe arm 3|. When the vehicle passes over the trip device 24 adjacent tothe intersection, the gong is again sounded and the semaphore turned for90 so that it is again arranged parallel with the side road 2|. Figure 9shows the arms 3| of the trip devices 23 raised and the arm 3| of thetrip device 24 is also raised. When the first arm 3| of the trip device23 to the right, is depressed, the semaphore 62 is swung to a positionat right angles to the side road, as explained, and when this arm 3|again rises after the vehicle travels beyond it, the semaphore remainsset in the shifted position. There is a slack in the cable 63 andbranches 64. When the arm 3| of the next trip device 23 is depressed itwill not turn the When the arm 3| of the trip device 24 is depressed itturns the semaphore in a reverse direction so that it is parallel withthe side road, and also takes up the slack in the cable 63 and branches64, whereby the arm 3| of the first trip device 23 to the right, Figure9, can again shift the semaphore ,to the danger position when such arm3| is again depressed.

While I have shown only two of the trip devices 23 associated with eachtrip device 24, Figure 1, it is to be understood that any suitablenumber of trip devices 23 may be used and the trip devices 23 may bespaced for any desired distances.

It is to be understood that the forms of my invention herewith shown anddescribed are to be taken as preferred examples of the same and thatvarious changes in the shape, size, and ar rangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or thescope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: I

1. In a roadway signal apparatus, a road trip device comprising a pairof spaced generally horizontal upper arms, means to pivotally supportone end of the arms, a lowerarm having one end extending between thefree ends of the upper arms, means for pivotally supporting the end ofthe lower arm remote from the free ends of the upper arms, a pin andslot connection between the free ends of the upper arms and the free endof the lower arm, and a signal device associated with and operated bythe downward movement of the free end of'the lower arm.

2. In a roadway signal apparatus, a pair of spaced generally horizontalupper arms, means to pivotally support; the arms; near: oneend;

thereof; a; lowenarm, means tolpivotally' support one. end of the; lowerarm. and arranged near thefirstenamed pivotal, supporting means, thefree endof the lower-arm; being arranged. between the free. ends of"the..upper armsiand having an elongated slot; alpin carriedyby-thefreeends: of: the. upper arms and operating within the slot, means to:raise: the lower arm, a: signal deviceassociated with: the; lowerarm,and mechanical meansoperated by the lower armtozactuate the.

signal device.

3. In a roadway signal apparatus, a road trip device comprising a pairof spaced upper generally horizontal arms, a lower arm having a free endprovided with a longitudinal slot and arranged between the free ends 01the upper arms, a pin carried by the free ends of the upper arms andextending through the slot, means pivotally sup porting the upper andlower arms near their opposite ends, means to raise the free ends of thearms, a gong associated with said arms, a rotary clapper for coactionwith the gong, a pinion to operate the clapper, and a rack to turn thepinion and secured to one of the arms.

4. In a, roadway signal apparatus, a road trip device comprising a pairof spaced upper generally horizontal arms, a lower arm having a free endprovided with a slot and aranged between the free ends of the upperarms, a pin carried by the free ends of the upper arms and passingthrough the slot, a spacer arranged between the upper arms and connectedtherewith, means to pivotally support the opposite ends of the arms, apulley arranged above the free end of the lower arm, a cable secured tothe free end of the lower arm and passed about the pulley, a weightcarried by the cable, a rack carried by the lower arm, a pinion to beengaged by the rack, a clapper operated by the pinion, and a gong to bestruck by the clapper.

5. In a roadway signal apparatus, a trip device comprising a casing, anupper pair of spaced generally horizontal arms, a lower arm having afree end arranged between the free ends of the upper arms and extendingbeyond the same, a pin and slot connection between the free ends of theupper arms and the lower arm, yielding means to raise the free end ofthe lower arm, a rack and pinion device operated by the free end of thelower arm, an audible signal associated with said arms and mechanicallyoperated by the rack and pinion device, means for pivotally supportingthe opposite endsof the upper and lower arms, a spacer arranged betweenthe upper arms and secured thereto, and a flexible cover extending overthe casing and the upper arms.

6. In a roadway signal apparatus, a road trip device comprising agenerally horizontal upper arm, a lower arm extending longitudinally ofthe upper arm and having its free end extending beyond the free end ofthe upper arm, means affecting a sliding connection between the freeends of the upper and lower arms, means pivotally supporting the upperandlower arms at points spaced from their free ends so that such armsmay swing vertically, a guide device for the free end of the lower armto prevent lateral displacement of such arm during its vertical swingingmovement, and a signal device associated with said arms and operated bythe lower arm.

7. In a roadway signal apparatus, an upper generally horizontal arm, alower arm extending longitudinally of the upper arm and having-itslongitudinally of the upper arm and having its free end projectingbeyond the free end of the upper arm, means connecting the free ends ofthe upper and lower arms, a member having a slot to receive the free endof the lower arm, a signal device associated with said arms and operatedby the movements of the arms, means to raise the free ends of the arms,and means to pivotallyxsupport the arms at points spaced from theirifreeends.

' v JOHN SPAKE.

